Samsung PL120 vs Sony NEX-3N

The following is a extensive assessment of the Samsung PL120 versus Sony NEX-3N, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Samsung and Sony. The sensor resolution of the PL120 (14MP) and the NEX-3N (16MP) is very comparable but the PL120 (1/2.3") and NEX-3N (APS-C) posses different sensor sizes.

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The PL120 was introduced 3 years earlier than the NEX-3N which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Samsung PL120 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-3N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the PL120 grades versus the NEX-3N with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Samsung PL120 & Sony Alpha NEX-3N. The whole galleries are viewable at Samsung PL120 Gallery & Sony NEX-3N Gallery.

If you're intending to travel with your camera, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Samsung PL120 comes with physical measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") along with a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) and the Sony NEX-3N has proportions of 110mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Samsung PL120 versus Sony NEX-3N in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the PL120 and the NEX-3N.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the PL120 and NEX-3N is 99 and 89 respectively.

Sometimes, its difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions just by going through a spec sheet. The image below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the PL120 and NEX-3N.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The PL120 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony NEX-3N will show more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged PL120 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.